Counting apparatus



March 18, 1941. H. .J. MUMMA 2,235,035

COUNTING APPARATUS Filed July 29, 1958 INVENTOR. fiaro/o J Mumma A TTORNEY Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COUNTING APPARATUS Application July 29, 1938, Serial No. 221,995

3 Claims.

Ihis invention relates generally to apparatus of the type disclosed in co-pending application of William A. Schulz, Serial No. 178,361, filed December 6, 1937, which makes possible the counting of articles of relatively light weight, such as articles of laundry. The invention also relates to electrical contacting and registerin means, such as are applicable to operating a counting device.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved means of the above character which will prevent false operation. Inattaining this object I make use of both front and back contacts operated by a member movable when impacted with an article of laundry, and these contacts are connected to an interlocking type of relay, which in turn controls an energizing circuit for a response device, such as a counter.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, in cross-section, illustrating apparatus making use of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 illustrating particularly the relationship of the panel with respect to the frame, and contacting devices associated with the panel.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2, and showing adjustable means for limiting movement of the panel.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 44' of Fig. 2, :and showing adjustable means for biasing the panel in one direction.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating electrical means connected to the contacting devices of Fig. 2, and serving to control a response device such as a counter.

In the aforesaid co-pending application of William A. Scholz, there is disclosed laundry counting equipment making use of one or more relatively light weight panels, which are mounted in a generally vertical position for limited lateral movement, and which are actuated by the impact of an article of laundry. In order to count movements of the panel, electrical contacting means are employed for controlling an energizing circuit, which in turn operates a counter or like registering device.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates apparatus of the general type disclosed and claimed in the aforesaid copending application. This apparatus includes an upstanding rigid frame II}, which is generally rectangular in shape, and within which there is an upright panel ll. At the lower end of frame lil there is another frame 5 or structure I2, in conjunction with a receiving hopper l3. Articles of laundry to be counted are tossed against the panel or screen H, and after impacting upon this panel they drop down into the hopper I3. 10

The panel itself can be formed as disclosed in the aforesaid Scholz application, as for example it can consist of a light tubular metal frame M, the lower corners of which are provided with pivotal connections Hi to the stationary frame Hi. A piece of canvas or like material I! is stretched across and. secured at its edges to the frame l4.

As illustrated more clearly in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive, the frame includes an upper horizontal member l8, together with the upright members i9. These members can be in the form of structural steel angles, having their ends welded together.

Fig. 3 illustrates adjustable means for limiting the movement of the panel. Thus a rod 2| extends through an opening in the flange l8a, and is threaded to receive the adjustable nuts 22. The forward end of this rod has a downwardly bent portion 23 against which the panel frame l4 engages. Screw 24 is also threaded in the flange HM, and is retained in an adjusted position by the lock nut 25. Screw 24 forms a limiting stop against which the panel frame l4 engages, when it swings rearwardly. Members 2i and 24 are provided in duplicate, as shown in Fig. 2.

Adjustable means for biasing the panel towards its forward limiting position, is shown in Fig. 4. In this instance a tubular shell 26 is attached to flange [8a, and this shell is internal- 1y threaded to receive the adjusting screw 21.

A compression spring 28 has its one end seated upon the adjacent portion of the panel frame l4, and its other end extending into shell 26, and seated upon the inner end of screw 21. By changing the setting of screw 21, the degree of tension or bias applied by spring 28 to the panel, can be adjusted between desired limits.

Electrical means operated by movements of the panel is illustrated diagrammatically in the circuit diagram of Fig. 5, and makes use of contacting devices 29 and 3|, which can be mounted upon the upper structural member l8. The details of construction of these devices need not be described. Device 23 includes within its housing a pair of relatively movable electrical contacts, normally biased toward open position. A small finger 32 projects from the housing of device 29, and this finger extends in position to be engaged by the panel frame 14, as the panel swings back towards its rear limitin position. For the final portion of the movement of the panel to its rear limiting position, finger 32 is moved suificiently far to close the contacts of device 29.

Contacting device 3| can be similar to 29, except that its electrical contacts are normally biased towards closed position. The movable finger 33 projecting from the housing of device 3|,

extends in front of the panel frame l4, whereby it is moved for the final portion of movement of the panel to the forward limiting position. Movement of finger 33 by forward movement of the panel, serves to open the contact of device 3|.

Referring now to the circuit connections of Fig. 5, a magnetic relay 36 is provided, and this relay is provided with a pair of magnetic armatures 3T anclSB, or some equivalent means for operation of two sets of contacts. One set of contacts 31a, operated by armatures 37, is connected in series with a circuit 39. This circuit includes a source of current represented by battery 4!, and an electrically operated device 32, such as a counter. The relay contacts 33a, controlled by armature 38, are connected in shunt with the contacts of the device 29.

The magnetic winding of relay 36 has its one terminal connected to one side of contacts 38a, and its other terminal is connected to a source of current, such as battery 43, with the other side of this battery connecting in series with contacts 3la of device 3!, to the other side of the contacts Eta.

Operation of the. apparatus described above can be reviewed as follows: When the panel is struck with an article of laundry, it swings to its rearward limiting position, and during the first portion of such movement contacts cm are closed while during the final portion of such movement contacts 29a are closed. Closing of these contacts immediately causes the current from battery E3 to pass through the windings of relay 36, because contacts 29a and 35a are now connected in series with respect to battery 43. Energizing of relay 35 causes closing of the two relay armatures 3'! and 33, with the result that closing of contacts 31a energizes the counter 42, while closing of contacts 38a shunts and looks out contacts 29a. As the panel 18 returns back to its initial forward position, opening of contacts 29a does not immediately result in deenergization of the relay 36, because as pointed out contacts 29a are shunted by contacts 3.8a. Therefore if some chattering should occur, that is a chattering tending to repeatedly open and close contacts 29a, no false count can occur. During the last portion of the forward movement of the panel ll, contacts 3la are. moved to open position, and this serves to interrupt the flow of current from battery 13, through the winding of relay 36. Therefore the relay is immediately de-energized and both the armatures 31 and 33 move to open position, to deenergize thecounter 42, and to again makethe contacts 29a receptive to a new count.

It will be evident that the apparatus can be adjusted in accordance with theweight or type of article being counted. For very light articles it is desirable to limit the amplitude of movement of the panel, by changing the setting of members 2! and 2'3, with corresponding changes in the positioning of the contacting devices 29 and 3i. While it is necessary that contacts 29a are positively closed as the panel swings to its rear limiting position, the biasing spring 23 can have its tension adjusted so that its thrust upon the panel is insufficient to move contacts 3la to open position. In such event the momentum of the panel, as it swings to its forward limiting position, can serve to momentarily open the con-' tacts em.

I claim:

1. In counting apparatus of the character described, an upright panel movably mounted and adapted to be actuated by impact of an article of laundry against the same, means forming limiting stops for lateral movement of said panel, means tending to continuously urge the panel in one direction whereby when impacted with an article of laundry the panel is moved from a forward limiting position to a rear limiting position, a pair of control contacts adapted to be closed by movement of the panel to said rear limiting position, a second pair of control contacts adapted to be opened when said panel returns to its forward limiting position, a response device, an energizing circuit for said response device, a magnetic relay having contacts included in said response circuit for controlling the same, said relay also having a winding andhaving a second set of contacts, said second set of contacts being closed upon energizing the winding of said relay, electrical connections whereby said second set of relay contacts are connected in shunt with said first-named pair of control contacts, a source of energizing current for the windings of said relay, and electrical connections whereby said first and second named control contacts are connectedin series and with the windings of said relay and said source of current for the same, whereby when both said first and second named control contacts are closed said winding is energized, and whereby when said second named control contacts are opened by return movement of the panel, the winding of said relay is de-energized, the connection of said firstnamed pair of control contacts in shunt with said second set of relay contacts serving to maintain said winding energized until opening of said second named pair of control contacts irrespective of opening of said first-named pair of control contacts.

2. In counting apparatus of the character described, a panel movably mounted and adapted to be actuated by impacting an article of laundry against the same, meansfor limiting movement of said panel, means tending to continuously urge the panel in one direction whereby when impacted with an article of laundry the panel is moved in 'an opposite direction the limit of its permissible movement, a pair of contacts adapted to be closed by movement of the panel against said biasing means, a second pair of contacts adapted to be opened when said panel returns to its initial position under the urge of said biasing means, a response circuit including a source of current, a relay having. one pair of contacts included insaid response circuit, and serving to control energization of the same, and means serving to electrically connect said relay with said first and second named pairs of contacts, said last'named means including means for maintaining said relay energized after opening of said first-named pair of contacts, whereby said relay is energized upon closing said first-named pair of contacts, and is maintained energized until opening of said second-named pair of contacts.

3. In apparatus or the character described, a magnetic relay having a Winding and having two pair of contacts, a response circuit associated with said relay, said response circuit including a source of current and a response device, said response circuit having one pair of said contacts connected in series with the same, whereby when the winding of the relay is energized the response circuit is closed, two pair of relay controlling contacts,

, said relay controlling contacts being normally energizing current for the winding of the relay, and electrical connections between the source of current for the relay and the winding of the same, whereby when both pairs of said controlling contacts are closed, the winding of the relay is energized to close both pairs of said relay contacts, the second pair of relay contacts when closed serving to shunt said first-named pair of controlling contacts to prolong energization of the relay until the second pair of controlling contacts 10 is opened.

HAROLD J. MUMMA. 

